Turning up halfway through test panicky is not ideal (5)
I believe the answer is:
inapt
'not ideal' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'turning up halfway through test panicky' is the wordplay.
'INAPT' is hidden back-to-front in amongst the letters.
However, I am not sure how the hidden word is indicated.
'is' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inapt that I've seen before include "Improper" , "Ill-chosen, not suitable" , "badly judged" , "unqualified" , "Inappropriate" .)